Recommendations based on Larousse Gastronomique: The World's Greatest Culinary Encyclopediaby Larousse

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Mastering the Art of French Cooking

    by Julia Child
    Step-by-step guide to creating French cuisine, with accessible instructions and helpful tips.

    For over fifty years, New York Times bestseller Mastering the Art of French Cooking has been the definitive book on the subject for American readers. Featuring 524 delicious recipes, in its pages ... (Goodreads)

  2. Joy of Cooking

    by Irma S. Rombauer
    A comprehensive guide to cooking techniques, recipes and culinary wisdom.

    In the nearly ninety years since Irma S. Rombauer self-published the first three thousand copies of, Joy of Cooking, in 1931, it has become the kitchen bible, with more than 20 million copies in ... (Goodreads)

  3. The Way to Cook

    by Julia Child
    Comprehensive guide to cooking techniques and recipes, from basic to advanced, with detailed instructions and illustrations.

    In this magnificent new cookbook, illustrated with full color throughout, Julia Child give us her magnum opus the distillation of a lifetime of cooking. And she has an important message for Americans ... (Goodreads)

  4. On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen

    by Harold McGee
    A comprehensive guide to the science and history of cooking, exploring the fascinating world of food and flavors.

    Harold McGee's On Food and Cooking is a kitchen classic. Hailed by Time magazine as "a minor masterpiece" when it first appeared in 1984, On Food and Cooking is the bible to which food lovers and ... (Goodreads)

  5. The Silver Palate Cookbook

    by Julee Rosso
    A classic cookbook featuring innovative recipes and cooking techniques that revolutionized American cuisine in the 1980s.

    "This is the book that changed the way America cooks."—Barbara Kafka The Silver Palate Cookbook is the beloved classic that brings a new passion for food and entertaining into American homes. Its 350 ... (Barnes & Noble)

  6. Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking

    by Marcella Hazan
    An exploration of Italian cuisine, featuring time-honored recipes and techniques.

    The most important, consulted, and enjoyed Italian cookbook of all time, from the woman who introduced Americans to a whole new world of Italian food. Essentials of Italian Cooking is a culinary ... (Goodreads)

  7. Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly

    by Anthony Bourdain
    A humorous and unflinching account of life in restaurant kitchens, exploring the culture and camaraderie of the culinary world.

    A deliciously funny, delectably shocking banquet of wild-but-true tales of life in the culinary trade from Chef Anthony Bourdain, laying out his more than a quarter-century of drugs, sex, and haute ... (Goodreads)

  8. My Life in France

    by Julia Child
    A memoir of Julia Child's life in Paris, cooking and exploring French cuisine.

    The bestselling story of Julia's years in France–and the basis for Julie & Julia , starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams--in her own words. Although she would later singlehandedly create a new approach ... (Goodreads)

  9. A Year in Provence

    by Peter Mayle
    A humorous memoir of a British couple's first year in Provence, France, adjusting to the culture shock and idiosyncrasies of their new home.

    In this witty and warm-hearted account, Peter Mayle tells what it is like to realize a long-cherished dream and actually move into a 200-year-old stone farmhouse in the remote country of the Lubéron ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Art of Simple Food: Notes, Lessons, and Recipes from a Delicious Revolution

    by Alice Waters
    A comprehensive guide to creating flavorful, healthy dishes from simple ingredients.

    An indispensable resource for home cooks from the woman who changed the way Americans think about food. Perhaps more responsible than anyone for the revolution in the way we eat, cook, and think ... (Barnes & Noble)

  11. The Fannie Farmer Cookbook

    by Marion Cunningham
    Classic cookbook with over 1,400 recipes, including traditional American dishes and international cuisine.

    Here is the great basic American cookbook–with more than 1,990 recipes, plain and fancy--that belongs in every household. Originally published in 1896 as The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book by Fannie ... (Goodreads)

  12. Barefoot in Paris

    by Ina Garten
    A culinary journey through the streets of Paris, discovering the city's unique charm.

    Hearty boeuf Bourguignon served in deep bowls over a garlic-rubbed slice of baguette toast; decadently rich croque monsieur, eggy and oozing with cheese; gossamer crème brulee, its sweetness offset ... (Goodreads)

  13. The Flavor Bible: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs

    by Karen Page
    A comprehensive guide to culinary creativity, offering combination ideas and flavor pairings.

    Winner of the 2009 James Beard Book Award for Best Book: Reference and Scholarship Great cooking goes beyond following a recipe–it's knowing how to season ingredients to coax the greatest possible ... (Goodreads)

  14. The New Enchanted Broccoli Forest

    by Mollie Katzen
    A vegetarian cookbook filled with delicious and healthy recipes, including soups, salads, and main dishes, all featuring broccoli as a key ingredient.

    This second volume in Mollie Katzen's classic cooking series features over 200 vegetarian recipes and a bounty of kitchen guidance from one of America's dearest cookbook authors. Mollie first revised ... (Goodreads)

  15. Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone

    by Deborah Madison
    A comprehensive cookbook, inspiring home cooks to explore a variety of vegetarian dishes.

    The tenth anniversary edition of this landmark cookbook, with more than 325,000 copies in print, includes a new introduction from Deborah Madison, America’s leading authority on vegetarian ... (Goodreads)

  16. Plenty

    by Yotam Ottolenghi
    A collection of vegetarian recipes, featuring exciting flavors and ingredients from around the world.

    With his fabulous restaurants and bestselling Ottolenghi Cookbook , Yotam Ottolenghi has established himself as one of the most exciting talents in the world of cookery and food writing. This ... (Goodreads)

  17. How to Be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking

    by Nigella Lawson
    A guide to perfecting baking and cooking, emphasizing the joys of baking and comfort food.

    Nigella Lawson's How to Be a Domestic Goddess is about not only baking, but the enjoyment of being in the kitchen, taking sensuous pleasure in the entire process, and relishing the outcome. Nigella's ... (Goodreads)

  18. The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

    by Ina Garten
    Recipes and entertaining tips from a renowned chef, bringing the flavors of the Mediterranean to your kitchen.

    #1, NEW YORK TIMES, BESTSELLER • A collection of all-new soul-satisfying dishes from America’s favorite home cook! NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COOKBOOKS OF THE YEAR BY, The New York Times Book Review ,•, ... (Barnes & Noble)

  19. Food Rules: An Eater's Manual

    by Michael Pollan
    A guide to mindful eating, exploring the connection between health, environment and culture.

    A DEFINITIVE COMPENDIUM OF FOOD WISDOM Eating doesn't have to be so complicated. In this age of ever-more elaborate diets and conflicting health advice, Food Rules brings a welcome simplicity to our ... (Goodreads)

  20. The I Ching or Book of Changes

    by Anonymous
    A set of ancient Chinese divination tools used to interpret the world and the future.

    The I Ching , or Book of Changes, is one of the 1st efforts of the human mind to place itself within the universe. It has exerted a living influence in China for 3000 years and interest in it has ... (Goodreads)

  21. Escape from Camp 14: One Man's Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West

    by Blaine Harden
    True story of a man who escaped from a North Korean prison camp and his journey to freedom.

    A, New York Times, bestseller, the shocking story of one of the few people born in a North Korean political prison to have escaped and survived. North Korea is isolated and hungry, bankrupt and ... (Goodreads)

  22. The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test

    by Tom Wolfe
    A journey through the psychedelic 1960s and the lives of an eclectic group of people.

    Tom Wolfe chronicles the adventures of Ken Kesey and his group of followers. Throughout the work, Kesey is portrayed as desiring the creation of a new religion. Kesey forms a group of followers based ... (Wikipedia)

  23. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

    by Stephen King
    A series of personal reflections on the art of writing, and the power of story-telling.

    "Long live the King" hailed Entertainment Weekly upon the publication of Stephen King's On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is ... (Goodreads)

  24. French Lessons: Adventures with Knife, Fork, and Corkscrew

    by Peter Mayle
    A humorous and informative memoir of a man's culinary adventures in France, exploring the country's food, wine, and culture.

    A delightful, delicious, and best-selling account of the gustatory pleasures to be found throughout France, from the beloved author of A Year in Provence . The French celebrate food and drink more ... (Goodreads)

  25. The Bassoon King: My Life in Art, Faith, and Idiocy

    by Rainn Wilson
    A humorous memoir of Rainn Wilson's journey from a struggling actor to playing Dwight Schrute on "The Office" and finding his spiritual path.

    Rainn Wilson’s memoir about growing up geeky and finally finding his place in comedy, faith, and life. For nine seasons Rainn Wilson played Dwight Schrute, everyone's favorite work nemesis and beet ... (Goodreads)

  26. Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking from London's Ottolenghi

    by Yotam Ottolenghi
    A cookbook filled with inventive and flavorful vegetarian recipes, showcasing the versatility of vegetables in modern cuisine.

    The hotly anticipated follow-up to London chef Yotam Ottolenghis bestselling and award-winning cookbook Plenty, featuring more than 150 vegetarian dishes organized by cooking method. Yotam Ottolenghi ... (Goodreads)

  27. A Moveable Feast

    by Ernest Hemingway
    A memoir of Hemingway's life in 1920s Paris, exploring its rich bohemian culture.

    Hemingway's memories of his life as an unknown writer living in Paris in the twenties are deeply personal, warmly affectionate, and full of wit. Looking back not only at his own much younger self, ... (Goodreads)

  28. Barefoot Contessa Parties!: Ideas and Recipes for Easy Parties That Are Really Fun

    by Ina Garten
    A guide to hosting stress-free and enjoyable parties with simple yet delicious recipes and entertaining ideas.

    After more than twenty years of running Barefoot Contessa, the acclaimed specialty food store, Ina Garten published her first collection of recipes. The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook was an overnight ... (Barnes & Noble)

  29. Momofuku

    by David Chang
    A memoir and cookbook by the founder of Momofuku, detailing his journey to becoming a successful chef and restaurateur.

    Never before has there been a phenomenon like Momofuku. A once-unrecognizable word, it's now synonymous with the award-winning restaurants of the same name in New York City: Momofuku Noodle Bar, Ssäm ... (Goodreads)

  30. Gonzo: The Life of Hunter S. Thompson

    by Jann S. Wenner
    A biography of the legendary journalist Hunter S. Thompson, exploring his wild and unconventional life and career.

    Few American lives are stranger, more action-packed, or wilder than that of Hunter S. Thompson. Born a rebel in Louisville, Kentucky, Thompson spent a lifetime channeling his energy and insight into ... (Goodreads)